P06 studio was challenged to bring to life the new exhibition space and graphic identity of MACC – Museum of Art and Collecting of Cantanhede, an institution created to highlight an impressive heritage consisting of around 800,000 pieces from different collections, periods, styles, and origins. This project was carried out in close collaboration with the City Council.
The central concept of the project was to create visible reserves, allowing the public to access pieces usually kept in storage. To achieve this, we designed display cases with drawers that visitors can open, revealing collections that would otherwise remain inaccessible, thus bringing the museum’s heritage closer to the public while archiving the entire collection.
Another key challenge was adapting the vast collection to the building’s diverse spaces, which vary significantly: some rooms are contemporary, others preserve older characteristics, and there are also corridors with different sizes and configurations. The exhibition was therefore carefully structured into large thematic areas, making it easier for visitors to understand the context of the pieces and ensuring a coherent narrative throughout such varied spaces.
Regarding the interior design, all the furniture was custom-designed, including cabinets, shelves, and drawers, conceived to house each collection carefully and in a visually appealing way.
The display cases were produced in yellow Valchromat, the main color of the museum’s identity, establishing a direct connection between the physical space and the MACC’s graphic brand. Lighting was meticulously planned to highlight the pieces and create distinct atmospheres in each thematic area.
For the MACC’s graphic identity, we drew inspiration from the concept of organization, archiving, and labeling of collections: the grid created from the design of the cabinets organizes the museum’s initials and reveals the diversity of the collection. Several communication materials were designed specifically for the museum.
This grid is versatile, easily adapting to various communication formats. The main typography is contemporary, inspired by hand-drawn lettering made with technical rulers, evoking the precision of cataloging work.
The final result was a cohesive and dynamic exhibition space with a distinct graphic identity. The new MACC was enthusiastically received by the public, registering a significant number of visitors in its first months of opening and establishing itself as a cultural and educational reference in the region.
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